Hewlett-Packard has started taking orders for its TouchPad tablet computer, which is set to be released in the USA on July 1. Interested persons can start placing their pre-orders for the webOS tablet from today itself. Along with the tablet, WebOS operating system will also make its debut.
The HP TouchPad WiFi version will be available in 16 GB and 32 GB. Optional accessories for it would include an HP Touchstone charging dock, a wireless keyboard and a case. These accessories are sold separately.
Although the TouchPad will likely not have an easy future, considering the competition from iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the upcoming HTC Flyer, HP is confident of the tablet’s capabilities.
“What makes HP TouchPad a compelling alternative to competing products is webOS,” said Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president and general manager, Palm global business unit, HP.
“The platform’s unmatched features and flexibility will continue to differentiate HP products from the rest of the market for both personal and professional use. This is only the beginning of what HP’s scale can do with webOS.”
With HP TouchPad and WebOS users can expect better multitasking, audio playback and web access too.
Last but not least, the Touch to Share capability allows users to share web addresses between HP TouchPad and WebOS phones.
Looks like, after Apple, here is another closed ecosystem in the making.